Tag Archives: Christian persecution in Syria

Kurds and Christians in Syria should fear the FSA, Islamists, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In recent days the intensity of mistrust between the Kurds and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) is clearly boiling over after the FSA entered Kurdish areas. The FSA Islamists are being openly supported by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. France is probably the most dangerous equation within the triangle of America, the United Kingdom and ruling elites in Paris. Therefore, the Kurds have every right to fear the brutal FSA and the various different Islamist terrorist organizations in Syria.

After all, the Kurds have been struggling for decades in Turkey and vast numbers have been killed. At no time did Saudi Arabia and Qatar concern themselves about this. More importantly, the Kurds are much more secular and given the Islamist nature of the FSA and many different Islamist organizations; then clearly the Kurds will become a future “lamb to be slaughtered” under the “watch” of Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Christians also have much to fear from the FSA terrorists who have sacked countless number of Christian churches and killed Christians. This isn’t surprising, after all in Saudi Arabia not one single Christian church is allowed and Muslim apostates to Christianity face being beheaded. Likewise, many videos have been circulated by the FSA and various Islamist terrorist organizations whereby they are beheading Alawites, Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims who are loyal to the government of Syria.

Given the nature of Saudi Arabia and that beheading is enshrined in the legal system of this nation, then this is another clear link to the barbarity of the FSA and Islamist terrorist networks. In the last 24 hours it is known that a Christian Armenian church was ransacked by the FSA Islamists. This isn’t anything new because in many Christian strongholds they have been forced to flee persecution and murder at the hands of the FSA and Islamist terrorist organizations.

Bishop Antoine Audo commented that “In the city of Homs, home to what was the country’s second-largest Christian community, all but a few of the faithful were forced to leave after a wave of persecution — all the churches desecrated.”

The Kurds will face the same Christian fate if the FSA and Islamists grow in strength because these movements care nothing about the mosaic of Syria. On the contrary, Islamists which are being funded by Qatar and Saudi Arabia desire a Sharia Islamic state based on the draconian Salafi branch of Islam. Therefore, not only are Christians and Kurds threatened by this new dynamic within Syria – but mainstream Sunni Islam will also face the wrath of Salafists – if they grow in power. Likewise, for Alawites, the Shia and Druze, then they also must understand that Saudi Arabia isn’t funding the FSA and Islamist groups for democracy, religious liberty and female emancipation.

After all, it is the government of Syria which supports religious freedom and female emancipation. Indeed, the secular nature of Syria is an affront to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In the past, this also would apply to Turkey but not under the Erdogan government which desires to scratch away at secularism within the body politic of Turkey. Therefore, during the last week you have not only witnessed Kurdish demonstrations in Turkey but also a mass demonstration by secularists in this nation because they don’t trust the Erdogan government.

In Aleppo the FSA and Kurds have been fighting after the FSA became interested in showing their power mechanisms alongside appeasing the government of Erdogan which is playing a very dangerous game. Sadly, for Syria, this outside meddling by Turkey which is the main conduit for international terrorists, covert operatives and military arms; then the result is tragic. This applies to vast numbers of Syrians being killed because of the collective policies of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. France is also involved in many areas while America and the United Kingdom are useful allies from a distance even if differences exist about the methodology.

During the recent fighting between the Kurds and FSA it is known that over 20 people were killed and it is also reported that over one hundred people have been taken by opposing forces. The FSA admits that at least 16 individuals from this mercenary and terrorist organization were killed. However, it is clear that the FSA is only interested in a truce in the short-term until they are powerful enough to crush the Kurdish Democratic Union Party. Likewise, the various Islamist organizations are not interested in democracy and secularism. Therefore, for Christians, Kurds and the Syria people collectively, it is apparent that under the FSA and various Islamist organizations that this country will enter a new period of oppression, wanton destruction and whereby religious liberty and female emancipation will be crushed.

The recent clash emerged after Kurds from all political persuasions demanded that the FSA leave their area. This isn’t surprising given the cleansing of Christians in many places by the FSA. When the FSA witnessed this then it is reported that they fired on innocent Kurds. Luckily, the Kurds, unlike Christian areas under FSA control, can’t be pushed around by the FSA and terrorized. Yet, the Kurds should know that if the FSA isn’t crushed in Kurdish areas and the military arms keep on flowing to the FSA; then one day this balance will tip against the Kurdish community. Once this happens, then Kurds will share the fate of Christians in places like Homs.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not interested in religious liberty, the future of Kurds within Syria and secularism. The dynamics within Turkey could change because many Turkish nationals don’t support the foreign policy objectives of Erdogan. However, for Saudi Arabia and Qatar then their goal will not change under the current monarchy based politics of both nations.

Christians and Kurds have much to fear given the ongoing persecution under the FSA and various Islamist terrorist factions in parts of Syria. Likewise, the Alawites, Shia and Druze know full well that Saudi Arabia isn’t interested in religious pluralism. Similarly, the Alevi suffer institutional discrimination in Turkey. Therefore, the dark forces being unleashed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar threatens the mosaic of Syria alongside destroying the independence of Syria which will please America, France and the United Kingdom.